Joey’s First Favorite Food – Homemade Yogurt

07 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by in Babies, Natural Child Care, Recipes

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My littlest one will be one whole year next month. I can’t believe it has been almost a year already! I say that with each one, but the time really does go faster than I realize. Being the real foodie fanatic that I am, delaying solids for my little ones seems the most natural, traditional way to go. I breastfeed them exclusively until they are almost one (and still continue breastfeeding as long as we are able). I do this for so many reasons, but here are my favorites:

  1. Breast milk from a healthy mama, who is eating a nourishing, real foods diet is SUPREME to any alternative;
  2. Babies do not even develop the necessary digestive enzymes to digest or assimilate grains and many other foods until between 6-12 months; and
  3. Exclusive breasfeeding allows my baby to be with me 24/7 – babies need their healthy mama all the time not only for physical health, but for emotional, mental, and spiritual.

And there’s so more! (For more information, read Real Food for Mother and Baby.) But hey, never take anyone’s word for it – do your own research with reliable, honest sources.

When I do start them on solids, I begin with vegetables, some fruits, organic butter and almond butter, and fermented foods (such as homemade yogurt or spelt sourdough crackers). I don’t usually go out of my way to make them special food, but rather just give them what I have already made for snacks or dinner (just keeping the baby’s spice free and simple) Today, I gave Joey some yogurt and he just loved it. I was surprised, because usually at the beginning, they don’t seem to “love” any food; they simply enjoy the new taste and the newness of eating. But he really enjoyed this one, so here’s my simple recipe for a first food:

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Homemade Cinnamon Yogurt

Ingredients

  • 3 quarts raw, pastured milk
  • 3 Tablespoons yogurt culture (I used an organic Greek yogurt)
  • Cinnamon
  • Stevia extract or Sucanat (optional) - do not use raw honey yet

Method:

  1. Add milk to a large stockpot and heat gently until 180 degrees.
  2. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 110.
  3. Pour milk into quart jars, leaving a little space at the top
  4. Mix in 1 Tablespoon of yogurt starter into each quart. Put lids on the jars.
  5. Add warm water (110 degrees) to the stockpot and place the quart jars in the water bath.
  6. Place the stockpot on a heating pad (or heating element of choice) and keep the heat steady at no more than 110 degrees and no lower than 95.
  7. Leave yogurt for 24 hours.
  8. After yogurt is thickened, put it in the fridge – it will become even more solid after cooling.
  9. Scoop out 1/2 cup yogurt into a bowl.
  10. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon and a dash of sucanat or a couple drops of stevia extract.
  11. Mix well and serve.

Though I don’t like heating raw milk, for this ferment it does make the end result thicker without the use of gelatin or other thickeners. Also, using just a tablespoon of starter gives the culture space to work, which in the end creates a smoother, slightly tangy taste. This might just become my new favorite snack as well!

Healing the Pancreas

01 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in Alternative Health

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The Lord has allowed me to go through a number of health issues. Though it is always a trial and difficult, I learn so much through the experience and know I am to share what worked for me naturally to heal the various organs who were all damaged by living on a SAD and Westernized lifestyle for years before I found the nourishing way. I am hoping to write a post for the plan I used for each area that God has helped me heal naturally; including my thyroid, hypothalamus, pancreas, gallbladder, colon, adrenals, small intestines (or Leaky Gut Syndrome), and reproductive system.

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Here’s what I did for my pancreas (mine exhibited its weakness as hypoglycemia, but it can show up as high blood sugar or pancreatitis):

  • Went on a GAPS similar diet which consisted of only the following type foods:
  • Low-sugar fruits (like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
  • Raw honey and stevia as the only sweeteners
  • Quinoa as my only “grain”
  • Coconut and almond as my flours and homemade milks
  • Grassfed meats, pastured eggs, lots of healthy fats
  • Lots of salads and veggies
  • Nuts and seeds

I did not do any sugar, sugar fruits (like strawberries, pineapple, melons, etc.); no grains, not even sourdough at this point; no dairy of any kind; no kombucha (sugar residue) or alcohol.

Herbs/EO’s/Alternative Therapies:

Since I was either pregnant or nursing, I did not use herbs or take oils internally. But the following could be used if you’re not one or the other.

  • Nutmeg and Ocotea EO taken internally are great blood balancers and support the pancreas
  • Orange EO topically 2-3 times a day on pancreas area
  • Castor oil warm compress on pancreas – 2 times daily
  • Pro-Pancreas by Nature’s Sunshine or
  • Dr. Christopher’s Pancreas Formula
  • Massage therapy and acupuncture
  • Bio-feedback using Dicom and LifeSystem
  • Emotional Prayer Release (as learned from the book “Feelings Buried Alive Never Die”)
  • Lots of prayer to aid in guidance and release hindrances to healing
  • Juicing with greens and apples (or celery and cucumbers)
  • Foot detox bath (if not nursing/prego)
  • Hot detoxing body soak (if not nursing/prego) – soak in hot water with ginger powder, healing clays, and Epsom salts – if nursing/prego doing a hot shower daily (with water aimed mostly at the back and not tummy if prego) will aid in circulating and promoting healing
  • Moringa leaf powder – up to 4 tsp daily
  • Either cod liver oil, butter oil or flax oil 1 tsp daily
  • Food Enzymes/Probiotics (like GOL)

I am thankful that after almost a year of this type of lifestyle, my pancreas is now stable. I can enjoy my fresh milk and sucanat treats once in a while. The crazy mood swings have finally stabilized and am feeling overall a sense of contentment again. God is good. Who knew one organ was responsible for so much? I also healed my Leaky Gut at the same time while on this diet, and slowly have been healing my colitis. Stay tuned for more on what works for the other issues. May God bless you on your journey!

I stayed

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies – GF

18 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Recipes, Routines

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It is such a beautiful day outside. The children are outdoors enjoying the spring sunshine. Though our schedule declares it to be reading time, I think the gorgeous God display in the backyard trumps. So, I went about making a newer version of our favorite gluten free cookie.

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Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies – GF

Makes 3 big batches – whatever that is :)

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup organic butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1 tsp aluminum free baking soda
  • 1 tsp Real Salt
  • 1 Tb vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 Tb stevia extract (or few pinches of powder, or 1 tsp of green powdered herb)
  • 4 pastured eggs
  • 2 cups sucanat
  • 3 cups sprouted rice flour (I grind the sprouted rice from Azure in my Blendtec)
  • 3 cups almond flour (also from Azure)
  • 1-2 cups hazelnuts, preferably roasted or soaked/dried
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Method:

  1. Add each ingredient in the order listed, one at time to the mixer.
  2. Leaving the mixer on low, continue blending each item one at time.
  3. Slowly add the nuts and chocolate chips last.
  4. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 for about 10-12 minutes.

Best enjoyed outside with a cold glass of Real, Fresh milk. Have a lovely day!

Sprouted GF Chai Pancakes

23 Saturday Mar 2013

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Azure (our monthly bulk natural foods buying company) recently started carrying sprouted rice for a good price (about $2/lb for the bigger bag). So, I bought 25 lbs. I just love how gentle it is on my digestion. Rice normally makes me feel full really fast, but the sprouted doesn’t affect me that way. Of course, sprouted grains are wonderfully nutritious, so this is no surprise. But sure a pleasant benefit!

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Sprouted GF Chai Pancakes

serves a ton – we use half for Saturday and warm the rest up throughout the week

Ingredients:

  • 5 eggs, pastured
  • 3/4  cup coconut oil
  • 2 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp pink salt
  • 1 dropper Vanilla Nunaturals Stevia
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chai spice mix (cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, cardamom)
  • 2 cups sprouted rice flour
  • 2 cups sprouted buckwheat flour
  • 1-2 cups water, filtered

Method:

  1. In Blendtec or Vitamix add 2 cups of the sprouted rice and sprouted buckwheat. Blend on the “Grind Grain” setting.
  2. Put dry flours into a separate bowl.
  3. Add all the rest of the ingredients, except for the flour, to the Blendtec.
  4. Mix until well combined.
  5. Add the flour back into the Blendtec. Mix on low setting, add water as needed to get the desired pancake consistency (not too thick, but not too runny).
  6. Pour pancake batter from Blendtec onto a heated griddle (preferably cast iron).
  7. Flip over when lightly browned, Cook on both sides.
  8. Enjoy with real butter! And for a sweetener, use either real maple syrup, raw honey, or just fruit.

Have a lovely weekend!

Chocolate Smoothie – dairy, sugar free

21 Thursday Mar 2013

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I do not think I could live without having chocolate milk once in a while. So, while on the no raw milk or sugar kick, I had to create one I could have. Of course, it has to have all REAL ingredients and actually be nourishing as well as a satisfying treat. This is why I added raw whey – made from our fresh milk. To make whey I use about a gallon of raw milk at a time; let it sour. When it has separated into whey and yogurt, I strain the whey through a linen cloth until I have a thick yogurt left in the cloth and about 1/2 gallon of beautiful whey, separated in the bottom. This is what I use for the children’s chocolate milk, as well. Great way to get an amazing protein source, without buying some compromised powdered shake. Homemade whey is also high in probiotic power and enzymes without any milk sugar. This recipe also has raw egg yolks, straight from our backyard chickens – another great protein source. The almond/coconut milk you can either make yourself, or buy it locally. And what smoothie would be complete without that amazing creamy texture? This is where the amazing superfood avocado comes in.(Side note: If you cannot tolerate any milk protein at all, just leave out the whey.) Hope you love this as much as I do!

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Chocolate Smoothie – dairy and sugar free

serves 1 (I only make this for myself, since I am the only one doing this crazy thing)

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 1/2  cup almond or coconut milk, or combination
  • 7-10 drops of NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia extract
  • 1/8 cup fresh whey
  • 1-2 egg yolks, pastured
  • 1 heaping tablespoon cocoa powder

Method:

Throw all ingredients in Magic Bullet or similar blender. Blend for about 20 seconds until well combined and smooth.

Enjoy!

How to Lose Weight with a Real Food Lifestyle

20 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Routines, Simple Living

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The baby fat from this last pregnancy (#8) has been the hardest to lose! I do understand why. Many different organs and body systems have to be working correctly in order for the body to properly metabolize stored fat (on its own as designed, without extra metabolism boosters and dietary fads). The body naturally was created to desire to maintain a comfortable body weight – one just right for your body type. Not too skinny, not too heavy, just right. In order to obtain this, certain body systems have to be detoxed and working efficiently, or no matter the diet or exercise has little impact, so it seems.  Here’s the check list of important organs/systems to have in order for optimal weight loss:

  • Thyroid/Hypothalamus/Pituitary
  • Pancreas
  • Liver/Gallbladder
  • Colon
  • Lymphatic
  1. DO A MAJOR DETOX: A real simple way to make sure everything is working right would be doing an overall detox/cleansing program. Look for quality companies, no fillers, just herbs and foods. I like Garden of Life products, Nature’s Sunshine, Dr. Christopher or Dr. Schultze and the like. Check out the notes from our detox workshop and get on a good program.
  2. Check for specific problem areas:
  • Do you have a low thyroid? If so, get some sea vegetables to support it (Pure Herbs TW, for example).
  • Do you have low or high blood sugar issues? Get lots of protein, stay away from all sugar sources, and get a good pancreatic support (Nature’s Sunshine Pro-Pancreas, for example). 
  • Do you have Leaky Gut? Get on the GAPS diet.
  • Do you have colitis or other colon issues? Do similar GAPS diet, but also take a colon support (Dr. Christopher, or Chinese Medicinal Herbal Combinations – see a local acupuncturist).
  • Congested Liver or Reoccurring Gallstones? Get a good liver support (Nature’s Sunshine has several, like this one. I am sure there are many others. Or Gallbladder Formula). Getting that liver and gallbladder cleaned out will make a huge impact. Drinking 5-10 drops of lemon essential oil by Young Living or other reputable sources in water each day will also support and cleanse.
  • Over-worked lymphatic? Do some skin brushing, rebounding, lemongrass essential oil on the bottom of the feet twice a day, drinking green drinks (greens blended in the blender with water – up to a quart a day). Barley grass and other grass powders are also very helpful.

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3. Stick with your Real Foods Lifestyle with these alterations:

  • Drink/eat only fermented fresh dairy – drinking raw milk has sugars we are trying to avoid at this time (think yogurt, kefir, soured cream)
  • Eat only sourdough or sprouted bread minimally (1-2 slices a day).
  • Eat 1 meal with properly prepared grains (like brown rice, soaked barley, or others).
  • Avoid starchy vegetables that would add to the sugar count (like potatoes).
  • NO Sugar at all – no raw honey, no sucanat, nada. Healthy sugar is fine when you get to your desired weight. For now, use Stevia - NuNaturals, without any flavorings or other non- Real Food ingredients.
  • Eat all the healthy fats, non-starchy vegetables, properly prepared nuts/seeds, fermented, organic, preferably raw and pastured dairy and pastured, organic meats and eggs that you would like!

4. Moderate exercise: Try to get in some stretching, walking, playing with your kids, going on nature walks, doing some weight lifting with your older kids… you get the picture. Stay active. Use your rebounder for 5-10 minutes a day. It’s not about working out for hours.This is a life-style, not a diet. So, the exercise should be something you can do in real life, with all the kids, and in budget and within time restraints.

5. Take some Moringa leaf or other superfood multi-vitamin to be sure you’re filling in all the gaps, especially if you have one or more compromised systems you’re working on strengthening.

6. Keep eating your fermented veggies – these will act not only as an amazing food enzyme, but a probiotic and powerhouse of nutrients. Shoot for 1-2 Tablespoons each meal.

7. Be prayerful! Keep a thankful journal and stay connected to the Ultimate Healer for wisdom and guidance.

That’s it! Losing weight shouldn’t be so difficult. Clean up and avoid simple sugars. If you’re already on a Real Foods diet, this should be an easy move for you. If you’re still transitioning over to a Real Foods diet, keep at it! Learn all you can. Make those baby steps, or go major! Whatever is going to work for you.

**If you are nursing or pregnant, you cannot use the detox herbs. If you’re nursing or pregnant and want to clean up minimally, I recommend Detox + from Bulk Herb Store – something with just activated charcoal or bentonite clay in it. These will absorb toxins without circulating them to the baby. Other than that, do NOT CUT CALORIES. You can do the above Real Foods diet with the alterations, but never go hungry. Remember you have a little one counting on you! Eat extra helpings of soup, salad, yogurt, lots of healthy fats, etc.

God be with you as you go on your journey to complete health! Remember that weight loss is the added benefit of a healthy lifestyle and optimally functioning organs. Watch for healthy, nourishing sugar free dessert recipes. I started on this a week ago, so I will be posting recipes, like chocolate bars ;)

Bean Quinoa Salad

17 Sunday Mar 2013

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Sometimes while shopping at Whole Foods, I hit up the salad bar. This past trip, I was consciously aware that I needed to make a high protein meal, without using compromised meats (got to keep my nursing supply going strong and healthy for little man).

Turns out, this was my favorite combination yet! I liked it so much, I recreated it at home. The only difference is that instead of using lentils as I did at WF, I used garbanzo beans, since they were already cooked up. Feel free to add any other combinations depending on what’s cooked and available in your fridge.

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Bean Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

Salad

  • 1 head organic romaine lettuce, chopped
  • few handfuls of organic spring mix greens
  • 1 cup quinoa, cooked and lightly salted
  • 1 cup beans, cooked – I used garbanzo this time and lentils before that
  • 1 celery, chopped
  • 1/4 cucumber, chopped
  • 1/4 tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 TB shredded parmesan, or other hard Italian cheese
  • any other veggies on hand

Dressing

  • 1/8-1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1-2 TB raw apple cider vinegar, or 1/2 lemon squeezed
  • Herbamare or other organic sea salt spices
  • Pink salt to taste
  • freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1 clove garlic, using garlic press or minced
  • fresh herbs if on hand – like parsley, basil, thyme, oregano

Method:

  1. Throw all salad ingredients into a bowl.
  2. Add each dressing ingredient one at a time; start with the smaller amounts, toss, taste and see if you need to add more of anything.
  3. Adjust according to tastes.

I love this salad as a stand alone meal, either for lunch or dinner. Especially helpful if I fix something for the family that is a high carb meal, while I am still doing lower carbs until baby fat is gone. Enjoy!

Rich Chocolate Mousse – sugar free

16 Saturday Mar 2013

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As I finish up losing the rest of this baby weight, I thought I’d speed it along by going sugar free, including my favorite – raw honey. This leaves me with stevia as my only sweetener option. I prefer the Nunaturals brand, as it does not have that bitter aftertaste. This recipe is loaded with nourishing fats and protein. Remember – fats don’t make you fat! Sugar does. Overloading the body with sugar, whether in the form of actual sugar cane, or white potatoes, or refined grains forces the body to flood the system with too much insulin, which begin the real problems – along with weight gain. But, I digress.

The “diet” I have put together is basically a real foods diet (I say “diet” loosely, because it’s not really restrictive to me, or calorie-reducing as modern fad diets). I keep my sourdough bread to a minimum, eat no sugar; but eat lots of healthy fats, veggies, quality proteins, nuts, seeds, and low-sugar fruits. I still enjoy my raw dairy – but fermented or just the cream for desserts. This is temporary for me until I reach my normal weight, then I will go back to eating properly prepared grains as I need them, and my healthy treats with some sucanat or raw honey.

This recipe contains raw cream and raw, pastured eggs. I do wash my eggs before using them raw. Be sure to use fresh, local, organic, pastured eggs. Not only are they the safest, but the most sustainable, nourishing, and nutrient-dense And now for the recipe:

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Rich Chocolate Mousse – sugar free

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup organic butter
  • 3-4 droppers NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia (or to taste NuStevia Pure White Stevia Extract)
  • 1 cup cream – preferably raw and organic
  • 6 pastured eggs, separated
  • pinch salt

Method

  1. Melt baking bars, oil and butter in a pan on low.
  2. While that’s melting, separate the eggs.
  3. When chocolate melted, put in mixing bowl and using whisk hook, mix on low.
  4. Slowly add cream to chocolate mixture. Mix on medium.
  5. Slowly add egg yolks to chocolate mixture. Continue mixing.
  6. When it is thick and creamy, stop mixer. Taste mixture and add more stevia if needed until you reach desired sweetness – if you put too much in, it will be slightly bitter after-tasting. It will taste like dark chocolate, not super sweet.
  7. Meanwhile, whip up the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff.
  8. Gently fold egg whites into chocolate loveliness.
  9. Mix slowly and gently until combined.
  10. Chill for best results before serving.

Enjoy with a soothing tea.

Strawberry Spinach Smoothie

11 Monday Mar 2013

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I confess, I am a bit obsessed with trying to fit these spring greens and baby spinach leaves into our daily routine. And I am always interested in smoothie ideas for breakfast. So, here’s our newest combination. We used raw, homemade kefir as the base. Hopefully soon, we’ll have our own milk to use. Still waiting on our 9-month pregnant Jersey to calf this month. Praying all will go smoothly for her.

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Source

Strawberry Spinach Smoothie

serves 6 kid sized cups

  • 1 quart kefir, preferably raw and organic
  • 1/4-1/3 c raw honey
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1-2 big handfuls of organic spinach
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 dropper of Vanilla Stevia (I prefer NuNaturals)

Place all ingredients into blender. Blend until super creamy and smooth. Add in your daily Moringa if you like, or other superfood. Enjoy!

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